China is renowned for its low-cost labor and manufacturing. The world’s major nations, corporations, and SMBs source their products from China. If not properly managed, a low-cost production yields low-quality goods. How can buyers protect themselves from bad products batches, miscommunication and gap in what is acceptable or not?
Any smart buyer spends time to consider the risks of importing product with defects, and usually lays out a plan to prevent this from happening. Up to today, one of the most cost-efficient (that is, most affordable) solution is to book China inspection service. With the help of a 3rd party inspection company, importers get accurate data, photographic and video evidence of the batch’s quality level. They can quickly decide whether to ship the goods out of China, or have it reworked, at the supplier’s expense.
Factory Inspection is a tool geared to assess the reality of your supplier in China
Competition is such that some Chinese vendors (manufacturers, wholesalers or agents) may resort to half-truth and lies to secure an order. A factory inspection allows Buyer to ensure whether the supplier is capable or not to produce the goods. It is conducted on-site, and helps tremendously with identifying the pitfalls of a supplier’s production and management.
A factory audit in China main advantage is to provide Buyer with a clear understanding of the supplier’s capability and shortcomings. Buyer can then deploy safeguards and contingency plan.
During Product inspection is great to identify delays and issues in complex assembly
During Production check is recommended when working with tight deadlines and complex assembly, or high-precision assembly products. A DUPRO check evaluates the remaining time needed to complete production, and assess if manufacturing specifications are met.
DPI (During Production Inspection) is mostly implemented when the manufacturing is continuous, and shipments frequent. The need for a very fast detection of defects, and quick implementation of corrective action leads to having goods inspected during production rather than wait they are fully packaged and ready to ship.
Pre-Shipment inspection is a no-brainer for FMCGs and white label orders
For only a few hundreds, you can book a quality engineer to spend the whole day checking every aspect of your order. Why bother with complaints, repairs and refunds when a final inspection delivers hands-on data about the quality of your order.
On-site quality check inventories defective products. It provides all the information needed to successfully have goods replaced or re-worked before shipping. Since goods are still at the factory, costs will be borne by the Seller. Not you.
Before releasing goods from the manufacturing facility, the inspection must be carried out promptly to accurately remove any problematic goods from the shipment. If you wish to make changes to the final product before release, effectively plan your actions.
Should I really trust an Inspection Company over my own staff?
We have found out over the years that businesses tend to prefer sending their own staff in the factory. Here is why this may not be the best product inspection in China solution :
- Your budget goes through the roof due to logistics
Sending your own people to a faraway manufacturer means that you will most probably have to pay for all expenses. This is nowhere near a flat USD 250 fee for a basic inspection and reporting through a QC company located in China.
- You will need to postpone shipping of goods
Getting a visa to travel to China is time consuming, we are talking weeks. On the other hand, you can book an inspection for the day after tomorrow. It makes sense to retain the services of a 3rd party company if you need flexibility.
- Your staff is not familiar with Quality Control procedures
There is a reason why Quality Inspection Service Providers are still here today. They have the skills, experience, and knowledge to successfully conduct Q.C in China. Just from your order quantity, and product specs, they can lay out a detailed quality control checklist.
Various inspection services are available at different time during the manufacturing. They are all deployed to help Buyers assess the level of risk borne. Following each inspection is a quality inspection report that includes all the relevant information needed for the Buyer to make an informed decision, or to take action.
Inspections in China are conducted by third-party inspection companies with inspectors strategically located to offer low-cost inspections throughout all mainland China. Inspection fees are usually low, and can prevent damages worth of thousands up to hundreds of thousands to Buyers.